B.__The presence or absence of the words or symbols of the words "and" and "the"; and

C.__Differences in the use of punctuation, capitalization or special characters.

7.__Change of limited liability company name by foreign limited liability company.__If a foreign limited liability company authorized to transact business in this State changes its name to one that does not satisfy the requirements of this section, it may not transact business in this State under the proposed new name until it adopts a name satisfying the requirements of this section and files an amended application for authority under section 715 that is accompanied by a statement of use of a fictitious name under section 605-A.

8.__Exception.__Notwithstanding subsection 2, the name of a foreign limited liability company may be not distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State if the foreign limited liability company was authorized to do business in this State before January 1, 1995 and had the right to use the name as its legal name before that date.

9.__Name of limited liability company suspended.__Subsection 2 does not apply to the name of any limited liability company whose certificate is suspended on and after the 3rd anniversary of the suspension.

Sec. C-21. 31 MRSA §604, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 718, Pt. A, §1, is repealed.

Sec. C-22. 31 MRSA §604-A is enacted to read:

§604-A.__Reserved name

1.__Reserve use of name.__A person may reserve the exclusive use of a limited liability company name, including an assumed or fictitious name, by executing and delivering for filing an application to the Secretary of State. The application must set forth the name and address of the applicant and the name proposed to be reserved. If the Secretary of State finds that the limited liability company name applied for is available, the Secretary of State shall reserve the name for the applicant's exclusive use for a nonrenewable period of 120 days.